How to dispose of aerosol cans
An empty aerosol can is usually just metal recycling. One that still holds paint, solvent or pesticide is a different story: it's pressurized and may be flammable, so it goes to a household hazardous waste program.
Short answer
- Empty cans: often accepted with metal recycling — check your city's list.
- Cans with product left: household hazardous waste.
- Never puncture or burn them.
- Some drop-offs refuse aerosols entirely, so check first.
Empty cans
New York City lists empty aerosol and paint cans among the metal it collects for recycling, and Houston's recycling drop-offs accept aerosol cans with other cans and containers. Programs differ, so check your own city's recycling list.
Cans that aren't empty
Household hazardous waste programs take aerosol cans that still hold product. In our directory, Durham, North Carolina, Fort Collins, Colorado, Akron, Ohio and Wichita, Kansas all list aerosols among accepted items. Not every site does: Oakland, Maine won't take aerosol cans. Our guides to paint and household hazardous waste cover spray paint and other chemicals.
Find a drop-off near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest sites, then check each site's page for aerosols.